Dr. Ann Hart honored on Sonoran Living Live

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PHOENIX - In honor of Black History Month, Sonoran Living Live salutes Dr. Ann Hart as an extraordinary woman of color.

Dr. Hart is the Deputy Associate Superintendent for the Arizona Department of Education.

She was appointed to this position by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2004 to lead Discipline Initiative and Classroom Management for the state.

This was the first appointment made by a Superintendent and she is the first to fill such a position in this state. This has been an extremely lofty endeavor.

Dr. Hart has been involved in the field of Education since she graduated from Cheyney University, in Cheyney, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hart's education has also been enhanced with 13 years of Federal Government experience, where she led her region in investigations for the Office for Civil Rights. A visionary and an active community leader, motivational speaker and writer, Dr. Hart is a woman who inspires and empowers women through her leadership, thus leading by the principal of "Having Faith for the Journey."

Her purpose-driven passion for educating the community on various school/community issues has kept her busy in the twenty plus years that she has spent in the school system, thus igniting a thirst which continues to embrace her commitment to raising educational and community and parental awareness with regard to raising the "whole child."

She is a leader who advocates for cultural competence and diversity, civic, social and civil rights and racial tolerance within our communities.

Dr. Hart holds a doctorate degree from Arizona State University, in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. A fellow in ASU's Morrison Institute of Policy, Dr Hart lectured to graduate and Doctoral studies on community and cultural affairs.

Dr. Hart is the founder of the Phoenix Black Women's Task Force, developing the legacy for black women's organizations in Arizona.

She is the recipient of the East Valley NAACP Humanitarian Award, and awarded "The Educator of the Year" by the Maricopa County Branch of the NAACP; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Living the Dream" Award; The YWCA Women's Civic and Community Leadership Award; Outstanding Achievement Award in Educational Excellence as a Role Model, Leader and Administrator, by also the "Extra-Ordinary" example of the power of Womanhood by BLACK POET VENTURES; in addition to "Fo' Keepin' It Real" by demonstrating exemplary performance in unifying and educating those around her, both professional and personal, by the Social Conscience of America, INC. Dr. Hart has received numerous honors and awards for her outstanding work in education sectors and community involvement; dating back from 1982 to the present.

She is a long-time community activist, a strong advocate on behalf of students and parental rights. Additionally, she was appointed to chair the African American Police Advisory Board.

Dr. Hart is a lifetime member of the NAACP and The National Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Hart an active member of the Phoenix Metropolitan Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. ,the Phoenix Links, Inc.; "Sisters Who Care", and a proud member The National Council of Negro Women.

She is a Christian woman and an active member of Greater Bethel A.M.E. in Phoenix, Arizona.

She contributes her passion to serving others, knowing that there is a purpose behind every problem.

"Those who refuse to place limitations on themselves will always succeed, believing that we should all be a bridge of encouragement to someone today."

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.